The nekton index, which is similar to the water quality scorecard, uses data from the State’s Fisheries Independent Monitoring Program (FWC - FWRI) to track trends for representative species. With samples dating back to 1998, the long-term record can be related to water quality and habitat characteristics to identify factors affecting health of bay fisheries. The index evaluates catch data relative to habitat use, species composition and diversity, and feeding dynamics to understand trends in the fish community.
An annual “snapshot” of ecological health helps fisheries managers target efforts to improve habitat or other factor. Nekton index scores can be translated into actionable management categories with narrative interpretations. Each action category has a description to provide guidance to managers:
Stay the Course: Continue planned projects. Report data via annual progress reports.
Caution: Review monitoring data and identify additional research/monitoring needs. Begin/continue TAC and Management Board development of specific management recommendations.
On Alert: Finalize development and implement appropriate management actions to get nekton community back on track.
The long-term results for the nekton index suggest the fish community is resistant to large-scale changes and resilient to episodic disturbance. For example, “Yellow” cautionary scores were observed in the mid-2000s and 2010/11 when red tide conditions and cold snaps may have affected the bay fish community. Recent conditions suggest the fish community is in a healthy state, with all four major bay segments receiving “green” scores the past four years. Long-term trends in nekton index scores by bay segment are shown below.
In 2020, Old Tampa Bay received an action category of Stay the Course (nekton index score of 51), Hillsborough Bay received an action category of Caution (nekton index score of 43), Middle Tampa Bay received an action category of Stay the Course (nekton index score of 47), and Lower Tampa Bay received an action category of Stay the Course (nekton index score of 52)